The home side drew level in the 40th minute with their first attempt. Chris Lines swung over a free-kick from the right and Tom Pope rose superbly to glance a 10-yard header inside visiting keeper Joe Murphy's right-hand post.

But Coventry regained the lead in sensational style three minutes later.

Franck Moussa surged forward from the centre circle and crashed an unstoppable right-footed shot into the top left-hand corner of Neal's net from 30 yards.

A double substitution sparked a massive improvement from Vale in the second-half as Ben Williamson, twice,and Pope squandered great chances to level.

But it was now time for the Coventry rearguard to buckle and Vale skipper Doug Loft slammed in a low 10-yard shot for a 59th-minute equaliser after the visitors had failed to deal with another Lines' free-kick.

There were further chances at both ends before Birchall's right foot squeezed a deserved winner, low inside Murphy's left-hand post from four yards after Williamson and Pope had both had shots blocked.